German Fest in Milwaukee is almost here

I have not posted much about German Fest this year. I did not feel the need, because they have finally started using their website and posting much more information than they ever have in the past. If you are looking for deals or specials on some of the days, please be sure to go the the German Fest website. However, I did not want disappoint some of my readers and give you a little more info about the info this year. Also, I like to provide links to the artists' webpages, so if you would like more info on some of them it is available. (German Fest website does not provide them). I am not going to list the local acts this year, because it would just take too much space.

30th Anniversary Showcase - When you see this in the program it will include only entertainment from Europe. Such as, Claudia & Alexx, Francy B, Geschwister David, Golden Sixties Band, Max Lechner, Armin Stoeckl, and Regina Thoss

Claudia & Alexx - Those of you who attended the Christmas show in Milwaukee (or in Chicago) will notice that Claudia has a NEW Alexx. I am providing a picture taken by my friend, Maria Olligies, who sent this to me in April. Most of the previous advertising from German Fest did not provide this info, but I am happy to see that they updated their website recently. Also, here is a link to YouTube where Claudia is doing a single, Lass uns Fliegen. Personally I think she does not need to be a Duo. Her voice is very strong and can stand alone, but I guess everyone needs a gimmick. Click Here for Claudia's facebook page.

Francy B - This is a new name to me. I have not seen her on German TV, asked my friend in Germany about her and she is unfamiliar to her also. Not sure what kind of music she does, so it should be interesting.

Geschwister David - Recently the Geschwister David have been on Stefan Mross's Immer Wieder Sonntag's TV show, where they competed with their new song, Ach wär doch immerzu nur Sommer. It should be a treat to see these two talented girls. They usually seem to wear dirndls but I don't know if they yodel.

Golden Sixties Band - Again, this is band I am unfamiliar with. Robert Deglau has been advertising on his Continental Showcase that, of course, they play the oldies. He has played some cuts on his radio show and they sound very good.

Max Lechner - Max Lechner has appeared several times in the Chicago area, courtesy of Armin Homann, who is a DJ there. Max also brings other entertainers with him that he manages, such as Armin Stoeckl. Max was in Milwaukee for the Christmas show in 2008 and is happy to return to Milwaukee. Robert Deglau has invited Max to co-hosting the radio show, Continental Showcase, on Saturday, July 24, from the festival grounds.

Armin Stoeckl - The first time I saw Armin Stoeckl was in 2007 at Lake Villa. He was in a show with Romy, who has been on many German TV shows. Armin has some very nice songs and Robert Deglau has been playing them faithfully every week on his radio show, Continental Showcase. Robert invited Armin Stoeckl to do a Christmas show in Milwaukee in 2008. Max Lechner organized the Christmas tour and also had Birgit Pless in the show. This same show appeared in the Chicago area and there are many people in our area who have seen Armin Stoeckl in the past. Robert has been telling everyone to be sure and catch Armin's rendition of Elvis; he says it is a show stopper.

Regina Thoss - I do not know this entertainer either, but I like her website. It is easy to move around in and she looks like she has been around a long time. I saw a picture of her with the late Ted Hierl† (whom she identifies as Fred Hierl) in 1993 when she was in New Jersey. So this is not the first time she has been to the US.

Biba und Die Butzenmaenner - This is a group from Germany, but is not part of the showcase listed above. They were at German Fest about 2 years ago. They play a little more American style music and is there for the younger crowd. If you are over 50, don't expect to sing along with the songs they play. The picture to the left was taken when they were at German Fest last time. Elmar drove them around last time and found them polite and appreciative. Although the old like I had for these guys has been changed, when they arrived, I asked for the new web address. So just click on the link above & you will go straight to their website.

Pre-German Fest Party

We had a great time giving a Welcome party for the Sandlers, last night. They will be playing German Fest all weekend. When Peter generously offered his band to play, I quickly said YES! It was a great feeling to have the Sandlers play in "my" backyard. Click Here to go to a link where our son, Tim, took a few pictures and even some short videos.

We were also treated to Milwaukee' s own Peggy Mueller, who played a few songs with Peter and, of course, Hansi on the spoons. There were even some sing-a-long moments. These musicians gave everyone a glimpse of the fine music that there will be a German Fest this weekend. Styrina was also there and she enjoyed getting to know some of our guests better before the big weekend.

Thanks to all our friends who brought delicious food and drinks and for helping us give this party for these talented muscians. It is a party that we will always remember. The evening got us all in the mood to have a good time at German Fest this weekend that will be filled with good music (like we heard this night), good food and a wonderful time spent with old friends. Later in the evening the Widdersteiner (Oberallgau Musikanten) band arrived and we all had the opportunity to get to know them better.

Springtime in Germany

We spent 2 wonderful weeks in May on a fabulous Bus Tour of Austria, Slovinia, Czech Repulic and Germany. The trip was organized by Gisela Lewis of Special Event Consultant, LLC and Peter Matthai, who is the leader of the Sandler. Peter's band performs any many German events along the East coast, Florida, Canada and Milwaukee's German Fest.

I have put some of my favorite pictures of the trip that include great scenery and having fun with our new friends in the slide show below. However, I will have a separate posting of just pictures of the entertainers we saw during those 2 weeks. After all it was a Reise mit Musik!

The trip started in Austria with stay at the beautiful Hotel Donauschlinge on the shores of the Danube. The view from our room was breathtaking. The food was so delicious at EVERY meal. It was really fun when we decided that for lunch we would go to a Konteterei and just eat Tortes. And we had our first Salzburger Nockerln, it was fantastic. We will definitely be having that again.

We visited such well know places in Austria such as Vienna, Grinzing (sampling the Heurigen) , and Linz. We had a day in Passau and a ride through the Bavarian forest with a stop at the Joskas Crystal world. The trip also went into Slovenia with a visit to the Slavko Avsenik museum & fest hall where we listened to Oberkrainer music, drank Slibowitz and enjoyed watching a tour group of almost all ladies who came from Russia.

But most of all it was a great group of people that we spent those two weeks with. We immediately found that we shared a love of German music and just plain having fun. If you get the New Yorker Staats-Zeitung then you have already read the articles published about this trip. Our friends, Otto & Sieglinde, wrote that detailed account of this trip. I loved reading their articles because it was almost like reliving it all over again and they had details that I had already forgotten. We met this talented couple several years ago on one of Ted Hierl's German Radio Cruises. We are all looking forward to the next one in May 2010.

Gisela & Peter are already getting plans together for next year's trip. So if you see either one of them at German Fest ask them about what destinations are in the works for next year. As soon as I get some details I will be making a post here and letting you know how to sign up.

We went on 3 boat trips, one on the Danube River, the Worthersee, and the Wachau. The trip on the Danube was private and only with our group while 2 musicians accompanied us on the whole trip. We toured the Schoenbrunn castle in Vienna, famous Melk, and saw breathtaking vistas upon the top of the Grossglockner (Austria's highest mountain).

We had music every day. If we were not at a fest enjoying a fine blaskappelle, we were being entertained after dinner at our hotel or enjoying country music Czech style. On the last day of our tour we went to the 125th Stiftungs fest of the Musikkapelle Neubeuern just minutes from our hotel. We were amazed at how many people showed up at this little Bavarian town's celebration. It was a week night and there were about 2,000 people in the large tent. I would estimate that at least 80% of the people were dressed in tracht; including this adorable little guy featured on the right. The slide show has several pictures of when the keg was tapped and of course a hardy "PROST" rang out after that!


It was truly a reise Mit Musik !!!

European Spring Tour

If you are looking for a great tour this Spring, take a look at the flyer to the left (click on flyer to enlarge). This 2 week tour of Germany, Austria and Slovenia/Czech Republic takes place May 6 - May 20. This escorted tour includes hotels, bus transportation with Bilingual tour guide, all breakfasts & dinners, admissions to several attractions (see daily iterary at our Events page), and entertainment galore.

I found out about this fabulous tour from friends we met on Ted Hierl's German-American Radio Cruises. Otto and Sieglinde wrote those terrific reports in the New Yorker Staats Zeitung about the Hawaii Cruise in 2008 and the Carribean Cruise in 2007.

This tour is being offered by Gisela Lewis of New Jersey. Gisela has provided German entertainment all over the United States and the Milwaukee German Fest. And now she has put together this music filled tour with Peter Matthai of Thuringen Germany. Some of you may remember Peter when he was at the Milwaukee German Fest with his band Die Sandler. You will experience several boat tours (one is on the Danube), Passau and Vienna. But that is only a small sample of what this tour has to offer.

If you would like more info about this tour, give Gisela Lewis a call at: (732) 528-5135. If you prefer talking to the booking agent, call Hans at Murray Hill International (Global Travel Solutions): (800) 776-4655. Hans can book this tour for you and if you would like him to help you book your air flight, he will be happy to help you. By clicking our Events button on the left sidebar, you will find a detailed list of where this tour will go day by day.

German Fest News

I just got an e-mail from Manfred Schuster of the Widderstein Buaba. They were at the 2007 German Fest in Milwaukee and teamed up with the OBERALLGÄU MUSIKANTEN, who sent a nice Christmas greeting this year. Those of you who saw this band remember that they were quite lively and had a lot of fun on stage. If you go to either one of their websites (links provided above), you will see a large collection of pictures of their 2007 performance in Milwaukee at German Fest. Maybe you are even in one of those pictures. I am sure they will have a lot of new music for all of you to enjoy. If you check the website, http://www.germanfest.com/, you will see that the Entertainment page has the same info as I have listed below.


As I receive more entertainment news, I will post it on my EVENTS page. I will keep a running list and links to the 2009 German Fest entertainment. But keep an eye on their website, they might be posting it too.

Their motto says it all: „Good music and much fun.“

It’s a combination that has made Widderstein-Buaba an audience
favorite at Oktoberfests in Canada, Philadelphia, Munich and Florida
as well as events throughout their homeland of Austria.

Now the band brings a unique brand of traditional folk, - dance and
Oktoberfest music to Milwaukee during their second appearance .

6 fun loving musicians look forward to your visit and a super party!!

Frohe Weihnachten from Oberallgau Musikanten

This e-mail comes from the Oberallgau Musikanten. If they look familiar to some of the Milwaukee people, that is because they teamed up with the Widdersteiner in 2007 at German Fest in Milwaukee.

Eine schöne Weihnachtszeit und alles Gute fürs neue Jahr 2009 wünschen euch die OBERALLGÄU MUSIKANTEN

Michl, Stefan und Hansi

http://www.oberallgaeu-musikanten.de/